All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA)

The Houses of Parliament by S. Wiltshire

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism (APPGA) is a formal cross-party backbench group of MPs and Peers who share an interest in autism and Asperger syndrome. It was set up in February 2000. Its role is to campaign in Parliament for greater awareness of autism and Asperger syndrome, and to lobby the Government for improved services for people with autism and Asperger syndrome, and their carers.

The official objective is:

"To raise awareness of issues affecting people with autism and Asperger syndrome, their families and carers; to raise Parliamentary awareness of autism; to campaign for changes to government policy to benefit people with autism and Asperger syndrome and improve diagnosis or, support for, people with autism and Asperger syndrome."

The APPGA does not have any powers to introduce legislation, nor is it part of Government. But it provides a useful platform for important and topical issues around autism to be discussed and raised in Parliament.

Current officers

Chair:	Janet Dean MP Labour MP for Burton
Vice-chairs:	Lord Clement-Jones Liberal Democrat Spokesman on Culture, Media and Sport Tim Loughton MP Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham Shadow Minister for Children Joan Humble MP Labour MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood
Secretary:	Lord Astor of Hever Conservative Shadow Minister for Defence
Treasurer:	Paul Holmes Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield Chair of the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Party

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism Manifesto for Autism

In 2003 the APPGA launched its 10 year Manifesto for Autism, which was signed by representatives from all the main political parties. The Manifesto sets out four general principles and eleven specific objectives to deliver better services and support for people with autism, to be achieved in the next ten years. You can find out more about the Manifesto by following the link at the bottom of the page.

APPGA reports

The latest report from the APPGA, Policy into practice, looks at how the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services is being implemented by local authorities, and reveals the gap between policy recommendations and the reality of services on the ground. The report was published in July 2007 and is available at the bottom of the page.

The APPGA has previously published a number of reports, available below in PDF format.

Get involved!

People can get involved with the APPGA by contacting their MP, and asking them to join if they have not already done so. If you have access to email, and would like to receive a template for a letter to your MP, please email appga@nas.org.uk with the subject 'Sample letter to MP'.

If you don't know who your MP is, please ring the House of Commons Public Information line on 020 7219 4272 (they will ask for your postcode), or you can access the House of Commons search engine at: www.locata.co.uk/commons

Send letters for your MP to:

House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

If you would like more information about any aspect of the APPGA, please contact:

APPGA
The National Autistic Society
393 City Road
London
EC1V 1NG

Tel: 020 7903 3769
Email: appga@nas.org.uk

Send us your feedback

If you have any comments about meetings of the APPGA or would like to suggest possible topics for future meetings, please let us know.

Follow this link to complete our online feedback form.

APPGA links

The Advisory Group: